Folsom, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Leash/tether max
- 8 feet
- Exception
- Designated dog parks
- Minimum hold if impounded
- 7 days
- Charge level
- Infraction
- Unaltered-dog impound fine
- $35 / $50 / $100
Summary
A Folsom dog must stay on its owner's property or under leash control everywhere else in the city under Municipal Code Section 7.04.040, and "at large" specifically means off a leash, lead, or tether longer than eight feet under Section 7.02.020; violating the leash law is a straight infraction and lets animal services impound the dog on sight.
Except in a designated dog park, no person shall allow or permit his or her dog to be or remain at large on any public street, road, alley, park, square, school, or other public place or upon any private property other than the property of the owner or custodian of such dog without the consent of the owner of such property, within the corporate limits of the city. An animal services officer may seize and impound any dog found running at large, and, except as otherwise set forth herein, such animals will be impounded at the city's animal shelter. Violation of this section shall constitute an infraction.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 1369, passed April 28, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 7.04.040 bars a dog from being "at large" on any public street, road, alley, park, square, school, or other public place, and from being on private property other than its owner's without that property owner's consent, anywhere within Folsom's city limits. The one exception is a designated dog park. Section 7.02.020 defines "at large" precisely: an animal off its owner's premises and not restrained by a leash, lead, or tether no longer than eight feet, with narrow carve-outs for a police or search-and-rescue dog on duty, a dog in an authorized training or obedience course or competition, a dog helping herd livestock, or any dog inside a public or private dog park.
An animal services officer who finds a dog at large may seize and impound it under Section 7.04.040, and the dog goes to the city's animal shelter unless a specific exception applies. Once impounded, a dog must be held at least seven days, not counting the day of impoundment, before the city can place it for adoption or euthanize it, under Section 7.10.040(A), and it cannot be redeemed until it carries a current license under Chapter 7.06 and the owner pays redemption, boarding, and other fees under Section 7.10.020.
If the dog is unaltered, the owner also owes the impound fine schedule in Section 7.10.030: $35, $50, then $100 for repeat impoundments, under California Food and Agricultural Code Sections 30804.7 and 31751.7.
Violations & Fines
Letting a dog run at large is a straight infraction under Section 7.04.040. An impounded dog cannot be redeemed until it is licensed and all fees are paid (Section 7.10.020), and an unaltered dog's owner owes an additional $35 fine for a first impoundment, $50 for a second, and $100 for a third or later impoundment under Section 7.10.030.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Folsom require dogs to be on a leash?
Can animal services take my dog if it gets loose?
What does it cost to get my dog back if it's impounded and unaltered?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Folsom
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